Immigrants on Visas erode wages in the US.
Raise Wages, Not Corporate Profits.
The H-1B visa was supposed to bring the world’s top talent to America — the best of the best. But what happened instead? Corporations turned it into a discount hiring program. Cheaper labor, fewer rights, and no consequences. That’s not immigration policy — that’s exploitation in a suit.
Let’s be honest: this isn’t about immigrants “taking jobs.” It’s about billion-dollar companies refusing to pay fair wages and using the H-1B system to dodge the labor market entirely. That ends with the STAR Act.
Democrats
Republicans
Title: STAR Act – Skilled Talent Are Rockstars
PURPOSE
To end the wage suppression scam at the heart of the H-1B program. The STAR Act restores fairness to the labor market by demanding that companies pay more, not less, when hiring foreign talent. If you truly need world-class workers, then pay them like rockstars — and stop using immigration as a backdoor to cheap labor.
SECTION 1: Rockstar Wage Requirement
A. Pay Above Market Rate
Every H-1B worker must be paid at least 160% of the prevailing wage for their role and region. No more “market rate” loopholes. If you want to sponsor talent, you better show respect in your paycheck.
B. Transparent Wage Benchmarking
The Department of Labor will define “prevailing wage” based on public, annually updated data — so no more shady estimates or employer self-reporting.
C. Certified Compliance
Employers must certify they meet STAR wage standards before filing H-1B petitions. The Department of Labor can audit and investigate compliance at any time.
SECTION 2: Enforcement with Teeth
A. Real Penalties for Cheating
If a company violates STAR wage rules, they face:
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$75,000 per violation
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A 5-year ban on filing new H-1B petitions
B. Random Audits
At least 10% of all H-1B employers will be audited annually by the Department of Labor. No more “trust but don’t verify.”
SECTION 3: Infrastructure and Oversight
A. Funding Enforcement
$50 million a year will go directly to DOL enforcement teams and public wage data infrastructure.
B. Application Fee Adjustment
A $500 increase per H-1B application will help fund STAR oversight — paid by the companies, not the workers.
SECTION 4: EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect 90 days after passage. No stall tactics. No delay. Just fair wages now.
Disclaimer
I’m not a lawyer, and this isn’t finalized legislative language — but I’m also not waiting around for someone else to write what’s clearly overdue. We need more single issue, readable bills.
These are serious drafts from someone running for Congress who believes voters deserve more than slogans and vague promises. And yes, once elected, I’ll work with the Office of Legislative Counsel, the Congressional Research Service, and policy experts to refine every section into fully enforceable law. That’s what they’re there for.
But make no mistake — the intent, urgency, and direction are already here.
STAR Act Certification Quiz
Can you confidently talk about how STAR addresses wage stagnation for high end labor?
Get all 7 right to earn your certification.